December 23, 2009

Violence Against Women a Major Cause of HIV/AIDS in Northern Ghana

Violence against women is one of the main causes of HIV/AIDS in Ghana’s three northern regions, according to research by the antipoverty nongovernmental organization Action Aid Ghana and reported by Ghana News.

According to the article, the research revealed rape and forced marriages increased women’s vulnerability to the disease. The fear of violence also prevented women from negotiating safer sex.

Stigma, abusive language and physical assault prevented them from testing and disclosing their status. Domestic violence led many women to leave their homes and join the sex trade. Most of the women didn’t know about laws to protect them.

The researchers recommended religious and community leaders should speak out against this brutality and that the government should review its policies and programs on domestic abuse.

Search: Ghana, Action Aid Ghana, Women

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